The five best spa hotels in the New Forest

One of the most popular spa hotels in Hampshire for a weekend escape on the edge of the New Forest. Chewton Glen’s award-winning spa combines classic elegance and impressive grandeur with a contemporary, holistic approach, and includes Europe’s largest hydrotherapy pool. There’s also a 17m ozone-treated indoor pool lined with blue mosaic tiles and surrounded by Grecian columns, and an outdoor hot tub (as well as an outdoor swimming pool). There are aromatherapy saunas and crystal steam rooms in the changing rooms and treatments on offer include Ananda and Ila. Other activities include tennis, golf, archery, buggy riding and duck herding.

This refined country house is one of the best spa hotels in the New Forest; you won’t be disappointed. Facilities include bikes and boots for exploring and a lush spa with outdoor hot pool, indoor lap pool and hydrotherapy suite. An impressive treatment list features relaxing Bamford massages and facials alongside improving Sarah Chapman skincare treatments (think microneedling and LED light therapy). For post-treatment nourishment, head to Hartnett Holder & Co. for delicious hearty plates before rolling up to one of the decadent rooms, all equipped with coffee machines, minibars, room pantries, and Bamford toiletries.

Contemporary and period style blend seamlessly at this family-friendly Brockenhurst spa hotel: fireplaces, stained-glass windows, a coat of arms, and acorn and oak-leaf patterned doors provide an air of English country house, while a modern wing houses the spa and bedrooms. As well as a swimming pool, the spa includes hydrotherapy pools, thermal rooms, a foot spa, ‘experience’ shower, outdoor hot tub, relaxation areas, and a range of treatments – the deep tissue massage is highly recommended. Elsewhere, maps, wellies, brollies and bicycles (free for children) are available for exploring plus there’s a cinema room, library, badminton and croquet.

The award-winning SenSpa is the highlight of Careys Manor; one of the loveliest hotels for spa breaks in Hampshire. A large UV-treated pool welcomes you, accompanied by a whirlpool tub, sauna and steam room. The adjoining hydrotherapy area features a large hydro pool, herbal sauna, crystal steam room, laconium, tepidarium, ‘experience’ showers and ‘health’ showers (which target jets of hot and cold water on the muscles), ice room and large relaxation room, where refreshments are varied and plentiful. There’s a wide selection of treatments, from facials to water therapy and Thai massages.

Enjoy grandeur on an epic scale at this mock Tudor hotel with its impressive turrets and gardens, carved fireplaces, bejellewed ‘Alhambra’ dining room and luxurious bedrooms almost within touching distance of the forest. There’s heaps to do here: croquet and giant dominoes on the lawn, a fun Hornbeam maze, heated indoor and outdoor pools (with sun loungers), bikes for hire, tennis, and a health club with gym, pool and sauna. Treatments and experiences use Elemis, Comfort Zone, Ishga, Jessica and Mii, and a range of packages ensure this as a good spot for relaxing spa days in Hampshire.